Shower apparatus



Dec. 16 1952 w vlCKROY 2,621,968

SHOWER APPARATUS Filed Dec. 10, 1948 Avmvrm.

Mam/14 fl. War/80K Patented Dec. 16, 1952 SHOWER APPARATUS William R. Vickroy, San Pedro, Calif.; Blanche Vickroy administratrix of said William R.

Vickroy, deceased Application December 10, 1948, Serial No. 64,611

3 Claims.

My invention relates to the field of bathing devices, and more particularly to a shower apparatus which may be vertically adjusted to a height to suit the convenience of the user.

Although numerous shower devices have been devised and marketed in the past, the majority of these devices have the disadvantages that they are cumbersome and bulky in appearance, have a complicated mechanical structure, are difiicult and expensive to install, and do not have handle means for the bather to hold onto during the bathing operation.

A major object of my invention is to provide a shower device that is attractive in appearance, will permit the shower head to be vertically adjusted in accordance with the height of the particular individual using the device, will have an extremely simple mechanical structure, and can be manufactured from commercially available material without the use of specialized equipment which permits the device to be sold in the medium priced merchandise field.

Another object of my invention is to supply a shower device that can easily be adjusted to the desired height, is particularly adapted to be used by women who wish to have their hair remain in a dry condition, can be vertically adjusted to a height where it is usable by a child, and cannot rotate in a horizontal plane whereby water will be sprayed from the enclosure or tub in which the shower is normally used.

A still further object of my invention is to furnish a shower device that is adapted to be used with either a portable or permanent shower enclosure, and although primarily adapted to be used with stall showers can be used equally well when positioned over a conventional bath tub.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred form thereof, and from the drawing illustrating that form in which:

Fig. l is a side elevational view of my shower device;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of an alternate form of the device;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the shower head holding clamp taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of an alternate form of shower head holding clamp; and,

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the clamp shown in Figs. 3 and 4, with a shower head adjustably supported thereon.

Referring now to Fig. 1 for the general arrangement of my invention, it will be seen that a vertically positioned tubular member M has a vertically adjustable clamp C slidably mounted thereon, with the clamp supporting a shower head S that is connected to a source of water by a flexible tube T. The member M serves the dual purpose of providing a slidable support for the clamp C, and furnishing a handle which may be grasped by the bather during the time that he is in the shower enclosure or bath tub.

The member M has a horizontally positioned pipe T In threaded on the upper end thereof, and a conventional elbow fitting II likewise threaded on the lower end thereof. Both the T I0 and elbow II have a tapped outlet which is disposed towards the wall from which my device is supported. A relatively short nipple I2 is threaded into the rearwardly disposed end of the T I D, and a similar nipple I3 likewise engages the tapped opening in the elbow II. The ends of the nipples I2 and I3 adjacent the supporting wall are threaded, and engage the tapped openings formed in two supporting plates I4 and I5 respectively. Each of the plates I4 and I5 is formed with several laterally spaced horizontal bores which extend therethrough, and permit screws or other conventional fastening means to engage the supporting wall to hold my device securely in position thereon.

The forward leg of the T I8 is engaged by a threaded pipe fitting I! of conventional design which is provided with a male outlet on which the upper end of the tube T is slidably inserted. The tube T can be fabricated from a number of difierent materials, but I prefer to use a heat resisting waterproof plastic material adapted to be furnished in a variety of colors. Thus, the purchaser may select a colored tube T which will harmonize with the color motif of the bathroom in which my device is installed.

As the water supply passes through the nipple I2 and T I I! to the tube T, the tubular member M is blanked off on the upper portion thereof adjacent the downwardly positioned leg I8 of the T Iii. By blanking off the member M in this manner, water does not flow downwardly therein, and there is no tendency for rusting or corrosion to take place within the confines thereof.

In Fig. 1 it will be seen that a nipple I9 is connected by conventional means to the nipple I2, with the nipple I9 being provided on its rearward end with a downturned 90 degree elbow 20. The downwardly positioned leg of the elbow 20 is in communication with an upwardly extending pipe 2| that is connected to a source of water. At a convenient height on the pipe 2| a valve 22 of conventional design is inserted, with the handle portion 23 thereof projecting outwardly through the wall whereby the bather can control the amount of water being sprayed from the shower head S. Although I have shown but a single valve 22 it will be apparent that it is normally desirable to have two valves positioned in this location whereby hot and cold water can be blended to the desired temperature by the bather.

The preferred form of the clamp C is best seen in Figs. 3 and 5, and includes a substantially rectangular piece of sheet metal 24 which by a bending operation is provided with two irregularly shaped legs 25 and 26. The forward portion of the legs 25 and 26 forms a vertically extending tubular member of annular cross-section which frictionally engages and supports a nipple 21, with the upper end of the nipple by a conventional fitting 28 being placed in communication with the lower end of the tube T. The lower threaded end of the nipple 21 is engaged by a union which adjustably supports a shower head S of conventional design on a ball 29 which is afiixed thereto. The rearward portion of each of the legs 25 and 26 is formed into a vertically extending portion of concave cross-section which is adapted to slidably engage the exterior surface of the member M. A horizontally extending bore 39 is formed at substantially the center of the legs 25 and 26, and has a screw 3| passing therethrough, with the screw on the threaded end being provided with a nut 32 and handle 33 of conventional design. Thus, upon the handle 33 being rotated the legs 25 and 26 are drawn together to grasp the member M and hold the clamp C and shower head S supported therefrom in the desired vertical position.

To prevent the clamp C and shower head 53 rotating in a horizontal plane, the free end of one of the legs 25 or 26 has an inwardly extending lip 35 formed thereon, with the lip being slidably movable in a longitudinally extending groove 1 31 formed on the rearward portion of the member M. Although I have found the above described clamp to be highly satisfactory when used, it may be desired to provide a clamp C and supporting member M of less expensive construction for certain competitive markets.

The alternate form of the clamp C shown in Fig. 4 is identical with the above described clamp other than the lip 33 is eliminated, with the free ends of the legs 25 and 26 in this form of my clamp engaging a rod 38 of circular cross section which extends longitudinally along the rearward portion of the member M. Thus, the rod portion by slidably engaging the free ends of the legs 25 and 26 serves to prevent the clamp C and shower head S from rotating in a horizontal plane.

In certain installations it may be desired to alter the arrangement of the supporting member M from that previously described. In Fig. 2 it will be seen that in a situation where a valve outlet 40 is already projecting from a supporting wall, the member M may be vertically positioned thereabove and supported from the plates M and IS in the same manner as previously described. However, in this type of installation the Water is supplied from the valve 4!], with the result that the nipple l9, elbow 20, and the water supply pipe 2| together with the valve 22 can be eliminated. The tube T is aflixed to the clamp C in the same manner as previously described, but with the free end of the tube being connected by conventional means to the valve 40. It will be apparent that in the alternate form of my device as shown in Fig. 2, either the clamp as shown in Fig. 3, or the alternate form of clamp shown in Fig. 4 can be used with equally satisfactory results.

The operation of my device is extremely simple.

The bather prior to adjusting the valves 22 or 40 loosens the clamp C by rotating the handle 33, and moves the clamp C to the desired vertical position. Upon the clamp C being positioned at the proper height the handle 33 is rotated in the opposite direction, with the result that the rearward portion of the legs 25 and 25 are drawn together and grasp the exterior surface of the member M in a non-movable position. It will be apparent from an examination of Fig. 3 that the clamp cannot rotate in a horizontal plane due to the lip 36 engaging the horizontally extending groove 31 formed on the member M. Likewise, when the alternate form of my clamp C is used the clamp cannot rotate in a horizontal plane due to the free ends of the legs 25 and 26 slidably engaging the longitudinally extending rod 33.

Although the above-described forms of my shower device are fully capable of attaining the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore stated, it is to be understood that they are merely illustrative of the presently preferred forms of my invention, and that I do not mean to limit myself to the details herein shown and described other than as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a shower device having a flexible tube connected to a water source and a shower head connected for universal movem nt on the discharge end of said tube: a vertical support adapted to be affixed to and spaced outwardly from a wall surface, said support having a longitudinally extending keyway therein; a clamp mounted for sliding movement on said vertical support and having a forwardly extending portion for engagement with said shower head; vertical key means on said clamp adapted to engage said support keyway to hold said clamp against horizontal rotation; and means mounted by said clamp for drawing together the sides of said clamp whereby it may frictionally grip said vertical support to thereby adjustably fix the height of said shower head relative thereto.

2. In a shower device having a flexible tube connected to a water source and a shower head connected for universal movement on the discharge end of said tube: a vertical cylindrical support adapted to be afiixed to and spaced outwardly from a wall surface, said support having a longitudinally extending keyway on the rear surface thereof; a clamp member having side walls shaped to form vertical cylindrical channels in front-to-back relationship, said walls being spaced apart at one end thereof, and one of said walls having an inturned lip adapted for engagement with said support keyway whereby said clamp may be non-rotatably mounted thereon with the opposite of said channels holding said shower head; and means mounted by said clamp for drawing together the sides of said clamp whereby it may frictionally grip said vertical support to thereby adjustably fix the height of said shower head relative thereto.

3. In a shower device having a flexible tube connected at one end to a water source, a nipple 5 attached at its upper end to the discharge end of said tube, and a shower head connected for universal movement to the lower end of said nipple: a vertical cylindrical support adapted to be affixed to and spaced outwardly from a wall surface, said support being formed with a longitudinally extending groove at its rearward portion; a clamp having a pair of horizontally spaced legs, the forward portion of said legs forming a vertically extending tubular member of an nular cross section for mounting said nipple, the center portion of said legs being formed with a pair of aligned horizontally extending bores, and the rear portions of said legs defining a vertically extending portion of concave cross section adapted to slidably engage the exterior surface of said support, one of the legs being formed at its rear portion with an inwardly extending lip slidably disposable within said groove so as to key said clamp against horizontal rotation relative to said support; a screw disposed in said horizontally extending bores; a nut threadedly mounted upon the threaded end of said screw; and a handle rigidly attached 6 to said nut whereby rotation of said handle will rotate said nut drawing said legs together so as to frictionally grip said support thereby adjustably fixing the height of said shower head relative thereto.

WILLIAM R. VICKROY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 694,888 Pfluger Mar. 4, 1902 795,782 Porter July 25, 1905 1,220,299 Viden Mar. 27, 1917 1,512,581 Deming Oct. 21, 1924 1,726,649 Callaghan Sept. 3, 1929 1,799,815 Hoff Apr. 7, 1931 1,831,342 Buskard Nov. 10, 1931 2,072,345 Schneider Mar. 2, 1937 2,279,150 Thom Apr. 7, 1942 2,441,734 Van Hyning May 18, 1948 Daniel Feb. 7, 1950 

